XML 55 R34.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6

Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Business Segments
Revenue	$ 4,303	$ 3,146
Total Operating Profit	877	609
Percentage as of operating profit to revenue	20.40%	19.40%
Business Segments (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue from shipyard customer	11.00%	12.00%
Rig Technology [Member]
Business Segments
Revenue	2,259	1,608
Total Operating Profit	547	419
Percentage as of operating profit to revenue	24.20%	26.10%
Petroleum Services & Supplies [Member]
Business Segments
Revenue	1,704	1,265
Total Operating Profit	388	231
Percentage as of operating profit to revenue	22.80%	18.30%
Distribution & Transmission [Member]
Business Segments
Revenue	564	410
Total Operating Profit	43	27
Percentage as of operating profit to revenue	7.60%	6.60%
Unallocated/Elimination [Member]
Business Segments
Revenue	(224)	(137)
Total Operating Profit	$ (101)	$ (68)

X

- Details

Name:	nov_BusinessSegmentsTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nov_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage as of operating profit to revenue.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nov_PercentageAsOfOperatingProfitToRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	nov_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Revenue from shipyard customer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nov_RevenueFromCustomer
Namespace Prefix:	nov_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	nov_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nov_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration